Leaf-spbihg-assemblingr machine



Nov. 8, 1927.

E. S. KOLBECK LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 12. 1925 gvviwntoz [Me 6. Kafka? Patented Nov. 8, 1927.

U NI TED S T A TE S F A TE N T UFFI CFE...

EBBE s. KOLBECK, OF SAN DIEGO, oALIFoRNIn. 7

LEAF-SPRIN'G-ASSEMBILING MACHINE.

Application filed January My invention relates*to a leaf spring assembling machine for springing the several leaves of a spring together so that they may be bolted-together at their middle, and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a machine to facilitate the clamping of the several leaves of a leaf spring: tegether, preparatory to. bolting them tegether at. the-middle in.- the usual manner.

fiecond to providea machine of this class whereby the springleaves are clamped together Without the leaves shifting end ways relatively toeach 1 other.

.Third,-.to;provide a machine of this class with means for shifting the operative struc- 'ture whereby the clamping device may be movedinto clampingposition or away from clampingzposition as desired.

F-ourtrh; to pfrovide a spring clamping machine of thisclass whereby the clamping members are provided with a space at the middle thus-providing for room for a mandrel =f0-r-supp'orting the spring leaves in proper position while. they are being clamped into position.

Fifth, to provide a machine of'th-is class whereby the springsv may be clamped together fiatwise, then after they are bolted the lea'ves may be alined' with each-other byturning the spring a one-quarter turnand then: clamping the 1 several leavesinto aahnement.

Sixth, to: provide av novel spring clamping machine of this class,-and

Seventh, to provide a machine of this class'which'ds very simple- 3.-I1dBCOIl0XI11C3.l o'f cen'stru'ction, durable, easy to operate and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

*Withthese and other a objects in. View as will-, appea-rhereinafter, my invention consists of certain-novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts andportions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in theappend'ed claims, reference-being had to the accompanying drawings and to the charactersof reference thereon which form a part-of'this application in which:

Figure I'is atop or plan view of'my machine showing a spring A ready to be clamped together thereon and omitting some of'the operating parts; Fig. 2 is a sim lar view showing-the spring in clamped position and the spr'ing bolt therein; Fig. 3 is a side eiev'ational view of the machine on an en- The moveable clamping platel, starisii ary clamping members 2 and3j, U shaped support 4;, back frame membertgsideifram'e members 6 and 7, shaft 8',.pinionl9, geanllg; gear rack 11, ratchet wheel.1"2,.ratchet pawl 1'3,.-cam member 14, cam. shaft l5 ,,leverf li$,. main operating lever 17 and pawl 18 constitute the principal parts andlportionsidf my leaf spring assembling-machine.

The side frame members 6 and? are rigiId,-; ly secured together by 'means of the plate 5 at the baclrand beam 5 attheffrontjthe plate 1 is shiftable on the top. of theifra-me formed bythe members 5, 6 a'nd7 by means. of a plate l secured to the plate l iitits opposite sides and spaced from tlfiplate 1;.

mounted on the upper edgesof'th members I 6 and 7 are plates '6? and-7 which are preferably off-set. Plates l and ti andll Dyer lap. and interlock with each .other' formiiig theguide members for supportingrthe plate 1 relatively to-the frame. -Mounted in$hemiddle on the lower side of the plate-#1 is a gear rack 11 which is adapted. to meshwith thespur gear 10 which is meunted onra shaftlO, the shaft is journaled-vat its pipposite ends-in theframe-memhers-GQ-andJ; irfies cured to back member 5 are the stationary clamp members 2 and .3 whichextend-up over theplate-member 1- andsareiseeumd together by means of the U member 47th,].1S- PT-i0 viding spaced apart stationary clamp .memhers. Secured inthe upper side of; the plate 1 area pair of spaced apart uprights'l rand 1 which form jaws or supports for engaging the spring; meshing with theggeardl) is a pinion 9, which pinion .9 is mounted-on a. shaft 8 which extends from the side fiwto the side 7 and is journa-ledinsaid-side-mem: here,- the one end of this shelf-t8 extends? out through the member 7 and some distance past said member. Rigidly-mountedthereon is a ratchet'wheel 12, and pivotally'mounted on this extended endis thebi furcated end ofthe lever 17 which straddles said ratchet wheel 12. Pivotally mountedibetween fihebifurcated memhersofthe lever: '17 is a+deuhle ratchet pawl 18 shown best in Fig. 6 of the drawings, which is provided with a boss 18 thereon. Mounted in the lever is a spring detent member 18 supported by a spring 18 "which is adapted to hold the detent out against the pawl 18 on opposite sides of the boss 18 for holding the opposite ends of the pawl in engagement with the ratchet wheel 12, the ratchet pawl 18 is provided with a handle 18 to facilitate its movement. Mounted below the ratchet wheel 12 is another ratchet pawl 13 which is provided with a Weight 13 which counterbalances the same tending to hold the tooth end in an engagement with ratchet wheel 12, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. Positioned just below this weight in the frame 7 is a cam shaft 13 upon which is mounted a cam 14 which is adapted to raise the weight '13 for shifting the pawl into and out of engagemerit-with the ratchet wheel. Mounted on the shaft on the opposite side of the frame member 7 is a lever 16 for shifting the cam 14 mm position for throwing the ratchet pawl into and out of engagement with the ratchet wheel 12.

The operation of my machine is as follows The spring A which is an ordinary leaf vehicle spring is provided with a mandrel B through the central holes of the spring, the whole is positioned between the bracket 4 and the uprights 1 and 1 on the moveable member 1; the pawl 18 is set with the member with the handle portion .8 engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel 12, as shown best in Figure 6 of the drawings, and the lever 17 drawn downwardly which turns the shaft which in turn turns the pinion 9 which turns the gear 10 and moves the rack 11 together with the member 1 and pulls uprights 1 and 1 towardthe portion 4 clamping the spring members together, as shown best in Figure 20f the drawings, after which a bolt is in serted' inthe central hole and the leaves secured together. As soon as the spring leaves are clamped together, as shown in Figure 2, the cam lever 16 is moved upwardly which causes the pawl 13 to engage the ratchet wheel which holds the ratchet wheel in such position. As soon as the spring is bolted together the lever is dropped down which releases the cam and the ratchet pawl is disengaged from the ratchet wheel 12, then the ratchet pawl 18 is shifted so that the member 18" engages the other side of the boss 18 of the cam member 18 so that the other end of the cam member 18 engages the ratchet wheel and by shifting the lever upwardly again the member 1 is positioned forwardly on the frame, then the spring can be turned a one-quarter turn and the same operation as before and the spring leaves positioned in alinement with each other after which the spring clamp members are secured in position and the spring is ready for use.

Though I have shown and described a particular construct-ion, combination and arrangement of parts and portions I do not wish to be'limited, to this particular construction, combination and arrangement but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a leaf springassembling machine, a frame, a double stationary clamp member secured thereto, a moveable clamp member with double jaws shiftably mounted on said frame and lever, gear and ratchet means for shifting and holding said moveable clamp member.

2. In a leaf spring assembling machine, a frame, a double, U-shaped stationary clamp member extending over said frame, a moveable clamp member, comprising 'aplatform for supporting thespring and having spaced jaws, shiftable relatively to said stationary member, positioned between the frame and said stationary member, a gear rack secured to the lower side of said moveable member, a gear meshing with said gearrack, a pinion meshing with said gear,'a shaft upon which said pinion is mounted, a ratchet wheel secured on said shaft and ratchet and pawl means in engagement with said ratchet wheel for holding said ratchet wheelin certain positions.

3. In a leaf spring assembling machine, a

said pinion is mounted, a ratchet wheel on said shaft and ratchet and pawl means in engagement with said ratchet wheel for holding said ratchet wheel in certain positions and cam means for engaging and releasing one of said ratchetpawls.

4. In a leaf spring assembling machine, a double, U-shaped stationary clamp member,-a moveable clamp member, comprising a platform for supporting. the spring and having spaced jaws, shiftable relatively to said clamp member, a frame upon which said stationary member is secured and upon which said moveable clamp memberis shiftably mounted, a pair of shafts mounted in said frame, a gear rack secured to said moveable clamp member, a gear on one of said shafts connecting with said gear rack, a pinion on the other shaft connecting with said gear, a

ratchet wheel secured to the shaft upon which the pinion is mounted, a lever loosely mounted on said shaft, a double ratchet pawl pivotally mounted on said lever and adapted to engage said ratchet wheel in various shifted positions.

5. In a leaf spring assembling machine, a stationary clamp member, a moveable clamp member, shiftable relatively to said clamp member, a frame upon which said stationary member is secured and upon which said moveable clamp member is shiftably mounted, a pair of shafts mounted in said frame, a gear rack secured to said moveab'le clamp member, a gear on one of said shafts connecting with said gear rack, a pinion on the other shaft connecting with said gear, a ratchet wheel secured to the shaft up on which the pinion is mounted, a lever loosely mounted on said shaft, a double ratchet pawl pivotally mounted on said lever and adapted to engage said ratchet wheel in various shifted positions, another ratchet pawl adapted to engage said ratchet wheel provided with a counterbalance Weight, a cam shaft means for shifting said ratchet pawl into and out of engagement with said ratchet wheel.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Diego, California this 3rd day of January, 1925.

EBBE S. KOLBECK. 

